• Question: Have hormones ever killed anyone

    Asked by imamidget to Partha on 23 Jun 2015.
    • Photo: Partha Kar

      Partha Kar answered on 23 Jun 2015:

      Potentially- can do. If taken externally, without supervision – it could potentially be fatal.

Comments

  • Photo: Laura

    Laura commented on :

    Just a wee added thing to think about. Many people don’t think diabetes is as serious as it actually is because there are very effective medications now.

    However, before insulin was discovered in 1921, people died from diabetes. It feels to me like there has always been treatment (I’m 33) but if I really think about it, insulin therapy hasn’t really been around for that long – it wasn’t around when my grandpa was a boy. But then it also gets me thinking about the future – if this wasn’t around two generations before me and now I consider diabetes as a disease that can be managed quite well, what will happen in the near future? Motor Neurone Disease, some cancers, etc can’t be cured at the moment but they might be easily managed by the time I have a grandchild (scary thought).

  • Photo: Saffron

    Saffron commented on :

    If you lose the secretions of your adrenal cortex which releases aldosterone and cortisol and you don’t’ replace the lost hormones with treatment you can also die pretty quickly as well! The stress homone cortisol is essential to life but usually symptoms of a failing adrenal become manifest and then hormone replacement therapy can be started.

  • Photo: Amy

    Amy commented on :

    To build on Laura’s answer. People with type 1 diabetes have been saved by insulin but taking too much of it can kill you too. It’s why you must take medication as directed. Not taking your insulin or taking too much can have negative effects.